“International education looks very different today than it did 40 years ago,” IDP Education CEO and managing director Tennealle O’Shannessy told delegates gathered in Sydney, The PIE News reported.
Marking its 40th anniversary, the annual Australian International Education Conference opened on October 27 at the International Convention Centre under the banner “Future Thinking.” Co-hosted by IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia, the four-day event brings together industry leaders to confront tightening policy settings, changing student behaviors, and rapid technological shifts.
Minister Clare Addresses Sector Human Impacts
Opening the conference remotely, Australian Education Minister Jason Clare focused on the broader human and diplomatic impacts of the sector rather than its immediate financial numbers. Clare noted that international education employs Australians and drives the economy, but emphasized that it also connects the country to the world, according to The PIE News.
The remarks arrive as Canberra continues recalibrating policy settings to slow migration and curb international student growth. Clare defended government measures aimed at strengthening integrity and targeting unscrupulous operators, acknowledging the difficult transition toward a sustainable path for the sector. As part of that recalibration, Australian universities are expanding their physical footprint overseas. Clare told delegates that five Australian institutions have already opened campuses in India, with Western Sydney University preparing to launch in Greater Noida. Vietnam has approved an investment license for an RMIT campus in Hanoi, as reported by The Australia Today.
“Not everyone can come here to study. Not everyone can afford it. But we can come to them,” Clare said.
Recognizing Industry Excellence at the Sydney Plenary
Amid policy pressures and shifting market demands, the opening plenary also celebrated individual and institutional contributions through the 2026 IEAA Excellence Awards. The awards highlight achievements across leadership, research, and emerging talent.
Former IEAA President from 2020 to 2024, Simon Ridings, received recognition for steering the organization through the pandemic and expanding its research capabilities. Meanwhile, Rongyu Li won the Excellence in Leadership in International Education award for contributions spanning several institutions, including the University of Queensland and RMIT. These honors emphasize the human side of an industry frequently debated through the lens of migration, revenue and enrolment targets.
Technology, Geopolitics, and Future Planning
Beyond physical expansion into South and Southeast Asia, delegates are examining how artificial intelligence alters how prospective students choose institutions. International Education Association of Australia CEO Phil Honeywood stressed that while geopolitics and policy settings will continue forcing change, the sector has a chance to take control of its trajectory through closer collaboration.
“Shifts in geopolitics and policy will continue to force evolution in our sector, but there is an opportunity for us to take greater control of our future,” Honeywood said, as reported by The PIE News. The conference runs through October 30.
Details Announced for AIEC 2026 in Sydney
When and where is AIEC 2026 taking place?
The conference runs from October 27 to October 30 at Sydney’s International Convention Centre, as reported by The PIE News.
Who co-hosts the Australian International Education Conference?
The event is co-hosted by IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia.
Which Australian university is preparing to open a campus in Greater Noida, India?
Western Sydney University is preparing to launch a campus in Greater Noida, joining five Australian institutions that have already established physical sites in India, according to Education Minister Jason Clare.